When I heard Transform Rockford was coming to our school, I was a little skeptical about how it was going to turn out.

I knew practically nothing about the organization. I was not sure how our students would react, considering that most of them were planning on leaving Rockford as soon as they could. This left one huge question spiraling through my mind. Sure, Rockford could change and become a pleasant city, but were people really willing to work to change it?

For this event, we were split up into groups run by a facilitator. Then we talked about how we wanted the Rockford area to look in 20 years. I was really surprised at how many changes that people wanted to see were the same: a cleaner and safer environment, a thriving economy, a proactive community. We wanted Rockford to become a place that people wanted to visit. We wanted poverty, homelessness, crime, and despair off our streets.

Finally, we summarized our ideas and shared them with the rest of the school.

The number of necessary changes was overwhelming. People kept thinking of new ideas. I was pleasantly taken aback by how much my classmates had to offer and how enthusiastic they were about this project. All the students were participating and sharing ideas. For a group of individuals who I pictured to be disinterested, with their eyes glazed over, they actually seemed excited about it!

I do not think I have ever seen the students of my school so willing to speak their minds and let their voices be heard. This made me realize that the students want to make a change, want to be the change.

After we were done sharing our ideas, we were given 5 Transform Rockford dollars. We put them in the categories of the improvement we wanted to see. I thought this was a great analogy for what we as residents are called to do for this project. The dollar bills are just like the effort that each person puts into changing Rockford. We can only improve Rockford (the categories) with the effort that is given (the money). If there is no effort or will to make Rockford a brighter city, there is no way this project can be a success.

Regardless of the many ideas that our students came up with, the one thing I want people to take from this article and from Transform Rockford is that there is always hope. There will always be hope. It does not matter how helpless and disheartened a place may seem; there will still be hope.

Hope is everywhere. It is in the dilapidated houses that line Rockford neighborhoods. It is in the soup kitchens, the schools and the small-town businesses. It is behind every pile of garbage and in every pothole. Most of all, it is in the hearts of the people who want to make Rockford a better place.

Page 2 of 2 - Before Transform Rockford came to our school, I only thought we could change Rockford. Now I know we can. However, this task will not be easy. It is not something that can be done in a few months or even in a few years.

Most importantly, this job is not something that can be done without the people of the Rockford community caring for one another (this generation and future generations) and working together. Only by becoming united can we make a difference.

Kaitlyn Stradtmann is a junior at Rockford Lutheran High School, where Transform Rockford leaders engaged 400 students in conversation Friday.